Freezer cylinder centering means



May 20, 1941. J. w. TowNsEND FREEZER CYLINDER CENTERING MEANS Filed Dec. 1e, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 ZZ ,Y l 14W @y1 Jdgnfr .mergzmed May 20., 1941. J. w. TowNsEND FREEZER CYLINDER CENTERING MEANS Filed Dec. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @rf/fasen@ an 7 v1:"atentecl May 20, 1941 UNITE stares Parr ignara FREEZER CYLINDER CENTERING MEANS James W. Townsend, Winehendon, Mass., as-

signor of one-half to The Alaska Freezer Co.,

Ine., Winchendon,

Mass.,

a. corporation of Massachusetts, and one-half to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., a rcorporation of New York This invention relates to an ice-cream freezer commonly made in domestic sizesv and manually operated.

It is the general object of my invention to provide an improved and simplified construction in a domestic ice-cream freezer, by which more economical manufacture is made possible.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improv-ed means for centering the rotating cylinder in the freezing tub.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in he drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of my improved freezer, with the cover raised and certain parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional side elevation showing the cover-locking devices;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view looking inl the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line -d in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial bottom view, looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan View with the cover omitted;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, taken in the direction of the arrow 'l in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional plan view, taken along the line 8-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View, taken along the line lll-i0 in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. l, my improved freezer comprises a tub or container it, a cover Il, a cylinder or can i2, a dasher i3, a main shaft I4 and a crank handle I5. The cover Il is preferably made of wood of substantial thickness and is machined, as best shown in Fig. 4, tol provide a central gear opening 2i? having a semi-circular recess 2l at one side and having a second and circular recess 22 aligned with the recess 2l but nearer the periphery of the cover. A radial opening 23 is also provided which loosely receives the main shaft I4.

The shaft I4 is rotatably mounted in bearings 2li and 25 (Figs. 4 and 7) which project upward from a gear frame member 3i! which is secured to the inside of the cover Il in any convenient manner as by screws 3i (Fig. 5). The cover had a downwardly projecting portionwhich is recessed at 32 (Fig. l0) to receive the frame member 30 and to prevent relative angular move- `ment thereof. The recess 32 extends across the grain of the woodcover li, so that the frame member Sil acts also to stiften the cover to prevent warping thereof. When the member 3d is secured in position, the bearings 2t and 25 are received in the recesses 2i and 5:2 previously described.

After the member Si) is secured inposition, the shaft lll may be inserted through the radial passage 23 and the bearings 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 4, and a bevel gear 33 is then screwed fast on the inn-er end of the shaft iii. The bevel gear 33 meshes with an upper bevel gear 35 and also with a lower bevel gear 35.

The upper gear is provided with a hub Si (Fig. 4) projecting downward into a bearing 38 in the frame member Sil. A cap t@ is centered in the opening 2c in the cover ii and is secured in position by screws fl (Fig. 3). The cap it not only closes the opening 2i! in the cov-er il but also provides a surface i2 (Fig. 4) to take the upward thrust of a ball t3, axially mounted in the upper surface of the gear 35. Upward displacement of the gear B relative `to the gear 53 is thus prevented. The hub 3l is provided with the usual square axial opening @5 (Fig. 5) to receive the squared upper end of the dasher shaft @6 (Fig. 1).

The lower bevel gear 36 is formed on the cover 43 of the can l2 and acts through the cover to rotate the can in one direction while the gearing described rotates the dasher in the opposite direction, all as is customary in ice-cream freezers.

The frame member Sil is out away as indicated at 5ft (Fig. 6) to provide clearance for the bevel gear 33 and is laterally enlarged and upwardly arched as indicated at iii (Fig. l) to provide clearance for the gear St.

For the purpose of securing the cover ll to the tub I0, I provide offset lugs 52 (Figs. l and 2) on the under side of the frame member 3G, which lugs are adapted to engage flanges 6@ on segmental cam plates 6i, mounted within the freezer at opposite sides thereof and preferably secured in position by the bolts 62 by which the usual bail 63 is also secured. Each flange 6] is provided with an inclined lower surface 65 andY with a shoulder 66.

In assembling the parts, the cover is placed in position with the lugs 52 clearing the flanges 60 at their left-hand ends, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 9. The cover is then turned clockwise, as indicated by the arrow a, to the position .shown in Fig. 6 or to such other angular position as causes the lugs 52 to rmly engage the inclined cam surfaces 65 of the flanges 60. The cover H is thus secured rmly in position, with the gearing in thel cover positioned in operative relation to the squared shaft 45 and to the gear 36 within the freezer.

The plates 6| are provided with additional flanges 'IG having inclined upper portions 1| and offset horizontal portions 12. These flanges 10 position and support the spaced end members Sli of a centering ring S2. ciated end members 8i! may conveniently be formed by bending two narrow flat steel strips to the shape shown in Fig. 8 and securing them together by spot-welding at the points 83.

The end members 80 are somewhat resilient and are normally closer together than the flanges l0. Consequently, when the centering ring is placed in position, the Yend members 80 are spread part and firmly grip the flanges l0, while at the same time they are supported by the offset fiange portions 12. The inclined portions 1| facilitate assembly of the centering ring in the freezer. The ring 82 fits the outside of the can I2 loosely but holds the parts substantially in the axial position shown in Fig. 1 until the cover and driving mechanism is assembled therewith.

'I'he ring 82 and asso- It will be seen that I have provided an im proved freezer construction in which the driving mechanism is supported on and reenforces the wood cover and is securely positioned relative thereto, and in which a simple and improved device centers the can and dasher within the tub during the packing thereof and during the attachment of the cover thereto.

I have also provided very simple means for `locking the cover in position and for securely closing and sealing the upper end of the freezer, thus excluding dirt therefrom and also much improving the heat-insulation for the frozen mixture.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I'do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claim, but what I claim is:

vIn a freezer having a tub and a rotating can, that improvement which consists in providing a centering ring for said can having spaced resilient end portions, and in providing plates secured to opposite inside portions of said tub and having supporting flanges for said end portions, said flanges having converging inclined upper portions, vertical middle portions, and outwardly offset horizontal lower end portions.

JAMES W. TOVVNSEND. 

